Saturday, February 13, 2010

Hard Times, Worse Comin'?

Yesterday's mail brought us an offer from the Wynn Las Vegas -- one free night for two paid nights. Sun.-Thurs. $139; Fri. Sat. $199/night with a complimentary upgrade to an "Encore Resort Suite King" based on availability. Sister hotel, the Bellagio is usually $300/night and the Wynn is newer and said to be posher so figure $350/night. This means the hotel is hurtin' big time.

But wait! That's not all! A $100 dining credit for food and drink in Chef Theo Schoenegger's salute to Frank Sinatra! (This means pasta, I don't doubt.) "It is the only restaurant sanctioned by the Sinatra family." One wonders if it was Greed Hog Barbara or actual family...

We were invited to include our family and friends in this largesse -- but they only get a $50 dining credit. Eatch'er hearts out! Call 888-770-7998 and use the code ESCFRD.

It was an impressive brochure (4/c art on heavy stock paper) so I went to WynnLasVegas.com and had myself a look-see. All of the public rooms shown were massively formal including the pool surround with cabans.

There are a number of specialty (read: expensive) restos. This sounded good at the Sunday Jazz Brunch -- poached eggs on BBQ-smoked pork on a bacon-cheese muffin with a charred green chili Hollandaise sauce.* It did sadden me to read over and over a reminder for the "nice" restaurants -- "Casual Business Attire Please." If you need to be told not to wear shorts and t-shirts to Daniel Boulud's (even thought he may not personally have been in the kitchen since 1962) you aren't deserving of the honor.

Tidbits about Steve Wynn...he is 68 years old (a Capricorn.) In 2009, he was #468 on the list of the wealthiest people in the world with a net worth of $1.5 billion. He currently owns six casinos.

The art work is Wynn's personal property, but he leases it to Wynn Resorts for $1 a year -- and THEY pay the insurance and security. How's that for a sweet deal? I can see how he got the net worth...

Wynn and his wife Elaine were introduced after their fathrs got together and thought they'd make a good match. College sweethearts, they married in 1963, divorced in 1986, remarried in 1991 and as of March 5, 2009, filed for divorce again. They have two adult daughters.

*Poached Egg dish You don't have to go to Las Vegas to get it -- make it yourself.
Leftover roast pork, heated and shredded.
Muffin mix plus cooked, chopped bacon and shreds of Cheddar cheese
Poached eggs
And, if you're too lazy to make your own Hollandaise sauce (melt a stick of butter while beating together 4 egg yolks and 4 T lemon juice with a dash of Tabasco, then whisk the butter into the egg mixture. Many supermarkets sell Hollandaise sauce in a jar. Just add 1 T drained, chopped green chilis from the can.

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